Bank Robberies
Drive-by Shootings
Burglaries and Theft
Home Invasions
Drug Abuse
The neighborhoods of Atascocita, TX are a dangerous place to be. What? You thought I was talking about some other area...like maybe the 5th ward around Farrington Mission? Nope. All those crimes happened right here in Atascocita, and I could have listed a lot more than that. In fact, the first time I ever came to Atascocita and visited NEHBC someone stole a box trailer from the church parking lot. I sure am glad I did not let that keep me from moving my family here to serve at NEHBC. A few months ago I walked out of my front door to find stolen property laying in my front yard. I had to call the police to come pick it up and they informed me that someone had been on my street that night breaking into cars. Not too long ago a sex offender tried to abduct a jogger on the same street where my 8 year old daughter rides her bike.
Click on any of those crimes above and you will be taken to a page that gives you dates and details of those crimes taking place in Atascocita. It would be easy for me to take these stories of crime along with others and paint a picture of the neighborhoods around NEHBC in such a way that no one would want to come near us. Still, this is our neighborhood. This is were we live, work, play, and gather together for worship. These things happened within miles of our church and homes and they happen everyday in this area because we live in a world corrupted by sin. There is nowhere you and I can go to escape that. God has not called us to live in fear and flee from sinners who may cause us harm. As a matter of fact, as disciples of Christ we are called to do the exact opposite. We are called to go to them:
"Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter." Proverbs 24:11
"...I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26:17b-18
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
"For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" Romans 10:13-15a
Furthermore, Scripture is very clear that disciples of Christ are not to live in fear but that we are to be bold and courageous regardless of what sinners may do to us:
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled." 1 Peter 3:13-14
How hypocritical it is for us to avoid the 5th ward of Houston because of the crime reports we hear coming out of there when our own neighborhoods have the same problems. How ignorant it is for us to think that avoiding the 5th ward will keep us safe and allow us to escape being a victim of a crime. How selfish it is for us to embrace Jesus as our Lord and Savior while being afraid to take the message of hope, love, and forgiveness to the lost because of what might befall us. How little faith we have when we allow crime reports and rumors from the world to shape our minds about a particular community and prevent us from influencing them with the gospel. How sad it is when believers focus on the consequences of sin and the actions of sinful men instead of on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and change lives.
Think back to the crimes that I mentioned that have happened in our own community. You and I don't think twice about going for a walk, letting our kids play outside, going to church, shopping, eating out, or even sleeping while all of this is going on around us. We do life in the midst of it all. That reveals how irrational our fears are. If you can do all of that in Atascocita without allowing fear to cripple you, you can do it in the 5th ward. If you can overcome your fears and allow your kids to play, live, and sleep in Atascocita, then you can do the same and let them spend one weekend at Farrington Mission doing the work of Christ. Whether you are a student struggling with a decision to participate in Fallout because of what you have heard about the 5th ward, or you are a parent struggling with letting your teen participate in Fallout because of the crime and reputation of the area, letting fear control your decision is sinful.
Parents, take this opportunity to grow in your faith by letting your teen serve the Lord. Use this as a teaching time and explain to your teen, "I am really stepping out on faith in my decision to let you attend Fallout but I am doing it because God has called us to be His witness in a sinful world and I want you to learn that. I am concerned about the 5th ward but I know I have to trust God to do what He wants to do in your life because He is the one who made you and you belong to Him. I love you and I want you to learn to walk by faith, trusting God in all situations. I want you to learn to serve Christ and others and to not be afraid to share your faith." Use the verses above to talk with your teen about your decision. Turn it into a family devotion and discussion. Above all remember that whatever decision you make will set an example that your teen will follow throughout his or her lifetime.
Are there legitimate reasons for not participating in Fallout or for not allowing your teen to do so? Sure there are, but fear of the unknown and of potential crime or danger is not one of them. Disciples must walk by faith everyday trusting God for protection and provision in the midst of a sinful world. When we do not walk by faith and allow our fears to drive our decisions and actions we are living in sin and are therefore outside of God's will...and that is a dangerous place to be.
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| www.nehbc.com/fallout |
